FAQ

WHO IS SCHOOL SAFETY SOLUTION?

We are a team of former educators with over 15 years of combined experience in elementary, middle, and secondary schools. We are focused on providing school safety products that meet the safety standards set by school districts and university. We know firsthand what it’s like to prepare for AND be involved in a lockdown drill or emergency. Our unique experience in the classroom and participating in school security drills allows us to best serve the safety needs of our nation’s schools, churches, and government buildings.

School Safety Solution is proud to offer the original lockdown shade for all organizations. Our Hideaway Helper lockdown shade, an essential school safety product, was invented by teachers and have been in schools since 2013, playing a critical role in classroom school safety and security in over 2000 buildings across the United States and Canada. We are the only patented lockdown shade on the market. Our patent was applied for in 2013 and issued in 2015. No other company that produces lockdown shades or blinds can accurately claim to have the experience and history of School Safety Solution’s lockdown shades.

FOUR REASONS WHY THE HIDEAWAY HELPER LOCKDOWN SHADE INCREASES SCHOOL SAFETY MORE THAN OTHER WINDOW COVERINGS.

1. Hideaway Helper lockdown shades are made of high-quality, blackout, NFPA 701 fire retardant fabric and are easy to install using industrial strength adhesive. They are designed to keep individuals out of sight during an emergency and are an essential tool in school security.

2. Our classroom lockdown shades deploy instantly without having to think or kneel or bend over. During a lockdown drill or emergency situation, a person only has time to react. A simple pull of the Velcro strap will release the window covering and allow it to fall into place within seconds. This important school safety product is a vital component in school security.

3. Over 60,000 Hideaway Helper lockdown shades have helped more than 2000 schools and organizations execute effective lockdown protocols since 2013. They have stood the test of time, with a less than 1% return rate.

4. Our blackout lockdown shades are the most effective window coverings on the market. Using feedback from customers over the years, we have tested variations of our lockdown shades to create the most effective solution for covering windows on classroom doors or office doors, sidelight windows, and other windows within a building.

WHY CHOOSE A LOCKDOWN SHADE INSTEAD OF OTHER WINDOW COVERINGS?

Our window lockdown shades are not the only solution for increased school security; however, we believe it is the best solution. Other options include security blinds and roller shades, metal window coverings, or paper.

Security blinds and roller shades

Security blinds and roller shades are time consuming to close in the event of a lockdown emergency and are more difficult to install. Installation of classroom security blinds or roller shades often requires the use of additional hardware and tools, altering the structure of a door or wall, and may not be compatible on all doors or window areas. In addition, many blinds and roller shades do not meet the standards held by local fire codes.

Hideaway Helper lockdown shades are made of fire retardant fabric, are easy to install, and deploy within seconds of the Velcro tab being released. They are also compatible on all door and other window areas. Our lockdown shades are designed to last and have stood the test of time.

Metal window coverings

Metal window coverings are typically the most expensive choice and will not work on all window sizes and locations. In addition, some metal window coverings are bulky and require a creative storage solution. They also require a person to have to kneel or bend over during a lockdown which forces him/her to take his/her eye off the situation.

Our lockdown shades are affordable and can be made to fit any size window, no matter the width or length. Also, our lockdown shades are hung above the window to be covered, which allows a person to maintain a standing position, able to keep his/her eye on the situation.

Paper

Obviously, this is the least expensive choice but the most ineffective. Not only is it time consuming, it also poses a fire hazard and is not guaranteed to be blackout. It is not an effective security solution to have windows covered with paper at all times.

As mentioned before, Hideaway Helper lockdown shades are made of high quality, fire-retardant, blackout fabric. In addition, they deploy within seconds to completely block the view into a room during a lockdown drill or emergency situation. When they are not in use, our lockdown shades remain in a rolled position which allows proper view into a classroom or office.

DOES A LOCKDOWN SHADE NEED TO HAVE A WEIGHTED HEM or A WAY TO SECURE IT AT THE BOTTOM?

Since our blackout lockdown shades are made with extremely high quality, heavy fabric, there is enough weight to help it fall into place quickly and effectively. We want to keep our lockdown shades at the most affordable price because we want all buildings that participate in lockdown drills to have our window coverings in place as an added level of protection.Although we do offer an option to add weight to the hem of the shade, it does increase the cost. Each facility requires a different solution based upon its unique needs. We strive the meet the safety needs of all buildings.

Our experience as educators helps us understand that adding a way to secure at the bottom, such as additional Velcro adhesive, DOES NOT increase the effectiveness. What it does increase is the time a teacher spends securing his/her classroom. In the event of an emergency situation, there is only time to react, not think through a long list of things “to do”, which includes securing a shade at the bottom.

Having Velcro at the bottom also increases the likelihood for future maintenance. Imagine an elementary classroom full of children who love to touch and pick at everything. There is no chance for a Velcro strip or tabs to stay stuck to the door for a long period of time! The tabs simply become a nuisance and require additional work and costs to the maintenance team.

Compatibility for ALL window covering applications is necessary. Our window covering will work for any window application. The lockdown shade we offer works on inset windows, sidelights, door windows, and other window areas.

WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW BEFORE AND WHILE I MEASURE MY WINDOWS?

Once you identify the windows that need blackout shades, please keep in mind the following recommendations from your partners at School Safety Solution.

1. Pay attention to the window from the side in which the lockdown covering will be installed. Typically window blinds are installed on the inside of a room.

2. Inspect the clearance space ABOVE the window. Hideaway Helper lockdown shades have a 2-inch adhesive Velcro strip at the top which means you will need at least 2 inches above the window to attach the shade. If you do not have enough room, please contact us. We are always happy to find a solution to meet your needs.

3. Look carefully at what is IN-LINE WITH or BELOW the window. If there are any obstructions such as crash bars, door handles, window ledges, or even the floor, we can work with you to design your shades so they deploy properly despite these obstacles.

4. Provide window pane dimensions only (W x L) in inches by clicking a “Request a Quote” button on our website or emailing us at info@schoolsafetysolution.com.

5. Once we receive your window dimensions, we will create a lockdown shade design size.

Typically we add 4 inches of fabric to the width to allow for a 1-2″ overhang on each side.

In addition, we increase the length of our security blinds by 6 inches. This extra length compensates for the 2-inch adhesive Velcro strip at the top of the shade and also allows the shade to hang 3-4″ lower than the window.

6. If you run across questions or a need for clarification, please feel free to contact us by calling 888-733-0406 or emailing info@schoolsafetysolution.com. It is our desire to make sure you get the exact school safety product you need to provide maximum security in your building.

WHAT FABRIC IS USED TO MAKE HIDEAWAY HELPER LOCKDOWN SHADES?

WHEN DO I NEED EXTENSION STRAPS?

Extension straps are available to ensure the lockdown shades are reachable if the window is high or for the vertically challenged. We only recommend ordering extension straps if absolutely necessary for high windows that can be out of reach for some individuals. Most schools don’t require the use of extension straps.

HOW EASY IS IT TO INSTALL HIDEAWAY HELPER CLASSROOM WINDOW SHADES?

Simple / Fast / Effective is our motto for a reason. It only takes about a minute to install our lockdown shades! Simply remove the adhesive backing, center the shade to the window, and press the adhesive strip into the wall/door just above the window. Absolutely no hardware or tools required! Check out our How To Install the Hideaway Helper Lockdown Shade video.

Oftentimes, schools will order our window coverings and simply hand them out for teachers or other staff to install on their own classroom or office door. Other buildings may opt to have their maintenance department hang all of the security shades. The bottom line is that our shades are so incredibly easy to install, anyone can do it!